{"id":91873,"date":"2024-06-25T23:40:31","date_gmt":"2024-06-25T23:40:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/how-often-does-identity-theft-happen\/"},"modified":"2024-08-19T14:21:28","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T14:21:28","slug":"how-often-does-identity-theft-happen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/how-often-does-identity-theft-happen\/","title":{"rendered":"How Often Does Identity Theft Happen"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"336cb5b64765e27a1a6c1bb71b941f1a\" data-index=\"1\" style=\"float: none; margin:10px 0 10px 0; text-align:center;\">\n<script async src=\"https:\/\/pagead2.googlesyndication.com\/pagead\/js\/adsbygoogle.js?client=ca-pub-4830628043307652\"\r\n     crossorigin=\"anonymous\"><\/script>\r\n<!-- above content -->\r\n<ins class=\"adsbygoogle\"\r\n     style=\"display:block\"\r\n     data-ad-client=\"ca-pub-4830628043307652\"\r\n     data-ad-slot=\"5864845439\"\r\n     data-ad-format=\"auto\"\r\n     data-full-width-responsive=\"true\"><\/ins>\r\n<script>\r\n     (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});\r\n<\/script>\n<\/div>\n<p> Are you worried about your online identity being stolen? You&#8217;re not alone. Identity theft is an <a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/team-password-manager\/\">increasingly pertinent problem<\/a>, and it&#8217;s important that we all understand how often it happens. The challenge is that <a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/business-identity-management-identity-manager-and-access-manager\/business-pricing-and-comparison\/\">identity theft statistics vary depending<\/a> on the source. However, what remains true is that it&#8217;s becoming more and more common, with stolen identities being used to perform a wide range of fraudulent activities. In this article, we&#8217;ll answer the question: &#8216;How Often Does Identity Theft Happen?&#8217;. We\u2019ll explore this issue through statistics, case studies and detail on the financial and personal impact of identity theft. After reading, you&#8217;ll have a better understanding of how often identity theft happens, and the steps to take to mitigate your risk of falling victim to it.<\/p>\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_77 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/how-often-does-identity-theft-happen\/#1_Identity_Theft_An_Overview\" >1. Identity Theft: An Overview<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/how-often-does-identity-theft-happen\/#2_What_is_Identity_Theft\" >2. What is Identity Theft?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/how-often-does-identity-theft-happen\/#3_How_Often_Does_Identity_Theft_Happen\" >3. How Often Does Identity Theft Happen?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/how-often-does-identity-theft-happen\/#4_Preventing_Identity_Theft_Tips_for_Keeping_Your_Information_Safe\" >4. Preventing Identity Theft: Tips for Keeping Your Information Safe<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/how-often-does-identity-theft-happen\/#Q_A\" >Q&#038;A<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 id=\"1-identity-theft-an-overview\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Identity_Theft_An_Overview\"><\/span>1. Identity Theft: An Overview<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Identity theft<\/b> occurs when someone takes your personal information and steals your identity. Identity theft can be damaging and traumatic to recover from. It is important to understand the many different types of identity theft and ways to prevent it.<\/p>\n<p>Generally, there are two main types of identity theft: financial identity theft and criminal identity theft. <b>Financial identity theft<\/b> involves stealing someone&#8217;s financial information or Social Security numbers in order to open accounts in their name or make charges on their accounts to obtain goods and services. <b>Criminal identity theft<\/b> occurs when someone uses another person&#8217;s identity when they are stopped or arrested by the police, with the accused person taking the blame for the criminal&#8217;s actions.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Monitoring your credit and banking records is the most important step in protecting yourself from identity theft.<\/li>\n<li>Review your credit report regularly and report any suspicious activity.<\/li>\n<li>Keep your financial data and Social Security numbers secure.<\/li>\n<li>Shred any important paperwork before discarding it.<\/li>\n<li>Be aware of online scams and take extra precautions when shopping online.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 id=\"2-what-is-identity-theft\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_What_is_Identity_Theft\"><\/span>2. What is Identity Theft?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Identity Theft<\/strong> is a serious crime where someone steals your personal information such as your name, SSN, or credit card info and uses it to commit fraud. The fraudster can take out loans, open bank accounts, sell your information to other criminals, or even use your identity to obtain employment. <\/p>\n<p>Identity Theft can be done in a variety of ways, including: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Stealing personal financial documents or information<\/li>\n<li>Using malicious software (e.g., spyware) to intercept information from a computer<\/li>\n<li>Scamming customers to reveal their personal information<\/li>\n<li>Operating an &#8220;inside job&#8221; with an employee inside a company<\/li>\n<li>Diverting mail with personal information from a mailbox<\/li>\n<li>Hacking into an online account to access personal information<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Victims of identity theft may experience a financial loss, their credit score may suffer, and it can be difficult to repair the damage. It&#8217;s important to understand how to protect yourself to reduce the likelihood of becoming a victim. Be sure to regularly monitor your credit report, use strong passwords, and be aware of threats that can put your information at risk.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"3-how-often-does-identity-theft-happen\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_How_Often_Does_Identity_Theft_Happen\"><\/span>3. How Often Does Identity Theft Happen?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>Identity Theft is Increasing<\/b><br \/>\nIdentity theft is on the rise, and new victims are being targeted every day. The risk of having your sensitive information stolen or compromised is ever-present, and according to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, about 15 million Americans had their identities stolen in 2016 alone. Here are just a few of the <a href=\"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/how-often-does-identity-theft-happen\/\" title=\"How Often Does Identity Theft Happen\">ways identity thieves operate<\/a>: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Stealing physical mail, such as bank and credit card statements<\/li>\n<li>Opening new accounts in your name<\/li>\n<li>Use your credit card information to make purchases online<\/li>\n<li>Hacking into corporate databases where people&#8217;s personal information is stored<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><b>Protecting Yourself Against Identity Theft<\/b><br \/>\nFortunately, there are steps you can take to protect yourself from identity theft. Here are a few tips: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Be aware of who has access to your personal information and safeguard it carefully.<\/li>\n<li>Make sure you use strong passwords and regularly change them.<\/li>\n<li>Be vigilant with your online security habits &#8211; only use secure websites and never click on links or attachments from unknown sources.<\/li>\n<li>Monitor your accounts closely for any suspicious activity.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Though identity theft is on the rise, those who take the necessary steps to protect themselves can rest easy knowing that their personal information is safe.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"4-preventing-identity-theft-tips-for-keeping-your-information-safe\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Preventing_Identity_Theft_Tips_for_Keeping_Your_Information_Safe\"><\/span>4. Preventing Identity Theft: Tips for Keeping Your Information Safe<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Staying secure and safe from identity theft in the digital age can seem daunting, but having a few basic rules in place can make a huge difference. Here are some tips to keep your personal information secure:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Follow The Three Cs <\/b> \u2013 Guard your computer, cards, and communication, all of which are essential to staying secure. Make sure to only use trusted websites and networks, never share your passwords, and clean up after yourself when using the internet.<\/li>\n<li><b>Be Wary of Phishing <\/b>\u2013 Be aware of suspicious emails, messages, or calls that offer something too good to be true. If something doesn\u2019t seem quite right, don\u2019t hold back on reporting it to relevant authorities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Regularly monitoring your credit report is also an important step. This allows you to keep track of any suspicious or unknown activity that may indicate you\u2019ve fallen victim to identity theft. Other protective measures include using encrypted passwords and two-factor authentication, using a Virtual Private Network (VPN) when connecting to public networks, and using trusted firewalls. Most importantly, never share your personal or financial information too freely.<\/p>\n<h2 id=\"qa\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Q_A\"><\/span>Q&#038;A<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Q: How often does identity theft happen?<br \/>\nA: Identity theft happens surprisingly often &#8211; in fact, one report estimates that nearly 1 million people in the United States experience identity theft every year. That breaks down to about 2750 cases a day &#8211; an alarming statistic that shows identity theft is a real threat. When it comes to protecting your identity from being stolen, the best thing you can do is create a FREE LogMeOnce account for Identity Theft Protection and Dark Web Monitoring at LogMeOnce.com. With the growing rate of identity theft happening more often each year, LogMeOnce helps to monitor your personal information as well as provide protection, so you can stay one step ahead. Investing in your identity security is the best way to protect yourself from identity theft. <\/p>\n\n<div style=\"font-size: 0px; height: 0px; line-height: 0px; margin: 0; padding: 0; clear: both;\"><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Are you worried about your online identity being stolen? You&#8217;re not alone. Identity theft is an increasingly pertinent problem, and it&#8217;s important that we all understand how often it happens. The challenge is that identity theft statistics vary depending on the source. However, what remains true is that it&#8217;s becoming more and more common, with [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[24719],"tags":[4027,20361,3217,3215,12515],"class_list":["post-91873","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-cloud-security","tag-cybercrime","tag-fraud-prevention","tag-identity-theft","tag-personal-data","tag-security-risks"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91873","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=91873"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/91873\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=91873"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=91873"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/logmeonce.com\/resources\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=91873"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}